Morning Notes

Pike Realignment in County Legislative Priorities — The county’s wish-list of federal legislative priorities includes a land exchange with the federal government to allow Columbia Pike to be shifted closer to Pentagon City as it approaches South Joyce Street, which would in turn allow the county to build an Arlington “heritage center.” Also on the list: the Potomac River boathouse and a plastic bag tax, plus provisions against helicopter noise and additional flights at Reagan National Airport. [Sun Gazette]

Moran Truth in Fur Labeling Law Takes Effect — A bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Moran (D) and signed into law in December goes into effect today. The law, the Truth in Fur Labeling Act, closes a loophole that allowed products with less than $150 worth of fur to avoid being labeled as a fur product. “This loophole has been exploited to pawn off dog, cat, and other animal fur as an artificial fiber,” Moran said in a statement yesterday. [Federal Trade Commission]

Green Living Expo Takes Place Saturday — The group Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment is hosting its second-annual Green Living Expo on Saturday at Washington Lee High School. The expo will feature eco-friendly products on display, seminars, a raffle, and activities for kids. DISCLOSURE: The Green Living Expo is an ARLnow.com advertiser. [Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment]

And the Columbia Pike money pit and economic boondoggle begins. Really, a heritage center…doesn’t Arlington County already have enough “cultural” waste that the county taxpayer supports. Do we really need another one?

Set_the_Controls

Didn’t I read recently that the Arlington County Historical Society, not far from the Pike on Arlington Ridge Rd., is not on sound financial or managerial footing? Why not shore up and improve that institution and instead of having two mediocre places have one great one? This attitude of “let’s build the utopian vision anew and forget about or destroy the old while we continue to throw money at it” is so wasteful, shortsighted, and not green.

borf

Maybe they’re going to move that to this site.

Burger

I mean it is a waste because not less that 5 miles from the farthest part of the borders of Arlington is the Mall with its museums, “cultural/heritage” centers and zoos.

borf

Is there anything about Arlington on the Mall?

g_clifford_prout

Isn’t the Arl. Historical Ctr enough?

borf

Sure. Why bring up the mall then?

Burger

It is duplicative. Why build a crappy heritage center no one is going to go to but will suck up tax payer dollars when there are better, more well funded arts/heritage centers on the mall which is just a hop skip and jump from Arlington.

Lou

The heritage stuff is a smokescreen. The only reason they are doing this now is to facilitate the trolley. No one’s ever thought about moving this road until now.

I’m sure they will go through all of the required environmental impact studies.

Lou

I don’t know, we probably have a good chance in Congress considering the House majority leader is from Virginia. Right? Right?

mehoo

Check your facts Lou.

Lou

If I said “the sky is blue”, would you tell me to check my facts? It’s kind of the same thing.

Chad

House minority leader. Majority leader is Boehner. He is from Ohio. Damn facts getting in the way of everything!

mehoo

Nah, Boehner is Speaker. The Majority leader is Cantor, from Va. He’s right. I read it wrong too at first. That’s what happens when the majority switches sides, it takes a few months to get used to the new titles.

Frenchy B

Lou’s correct – Boehner is Speaker of the House, Cantor is House Majority Leader.

Chad

This is why I like my opinion more – because unlike facts, it won’t change.

SoArlRes

ArlNow, does the change to Columbia Pike being proposed involve Joyce street turning immediately after passing under 395, rather than going around the parking lots like it currently does? Also, is there a website for this project yet, or are details still pending? Thank you.

NPGMBR

My only concern with the realignment of the Pike is accessibility to the bike/walk/runner path that currently connects to the Pike. When the realignment occurs and those lands are handed over the Cemetery will access became more difficult for recreation?